How Continuous Residence & Physical Presence Work
USCIS evaluates your trips abroad in three tiers:
Under 6 months
Short trips abroad won't affect your continuous residence.6 – 12 months
USCIS may question your continuous residence, but you can still qualify by showing strong ties to the U.S. — like a job, lease, or tax filings.1 year or more
Automatically breaks continuous residence and restarts the clock.Physical presence is separate from continuous residence. You must have been physically in the U.S. for at least 913 days (5-year track) or 548 days (3-year marriage track) during the statutory period. Every day spent abroad counts against this total.
For a complete explanation of these rules, including evidence checklists and real examples, read our detailed guide. Read the full guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
On the 5-year track, you need at least 913 days of physical presence in the U.S. during the statutory period (the 5 years before your filing date). On the 3-year marriage track, you need at least 548 days. These are the physical presence minimums. Separately, any single trip under 6 months won’t affect your continuous residence.
Not automatically. A trip between 6 and 12 months means USCIS will assume you broke continuous residence — but you can push back with evidence of strong U.S. ties, like a job, lease, property, bank accounts, or tax filings. A trip over 12 months, however, automatically breaks continuous residence.
If you were outside the U.S. for more than 1 year continuously, your continuous residence resets. On the 5-year track, you must wait 4 years and 1 day from your return date before you can file N-400 again. On the 3-year marriage track, the wait is 2 years and 1 day.
Continuous residence means you haven't abandoned your U.S. domicile — it's about intent to live here. Physical presence is simpler: the total number of days you were actually, physically inside the United States during the statutory period. You must meet both requirements to be eligible for naturalization.